U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack Wednesday even urged China" to use its leverage, to encourage a change of behavior " of Pyongyang.

However, China and Russia, both permanent member of the UN Security Council, is resisting sanctions on DPRK, saying that while they oppose the missile tests, they prefers to persuade rather than threaten or punish Pyongyang. In the Security Council consulations, China has called for more diplomacy and refused to endorse a threat of sanctions backed by Japan, Britain and the United States.

Some in the United States believe that China, acting as DPRK'strong friend and economic lifeline, providing Pyongyang with trade, aid and energy, China seemingly has lots of leverages in its hand.

However, China obviously isn't using aid as a weapon.

"China sends oil, grain and other assistance to DPRK. But aid isn't a weapon if it's not used as a weapon," said Zhang Liangui, a DPRK watcher at China's Central Party School in Beijing." And China doesn't contemplate using aid as a weapon, so its influence is limited."

Now, as Christopher Hill returns to the region and another round of regional diplomacy unfolds, the United States is pinning hope on China to keep DPRK from test firing more of its missiles believed sitting on the launch pads.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack Wednesday even urged China "to use its leverage, to encourage a change of behavior " of Pyongyang.

However, China and Russia, both permanent member of the UN Security Council, is resisting sanctions on DPRK, saying that while they oppose the missile tests, they prefers to persuade rather than threaten or punish Pyongyang. In the Security Council consulations, China has called for more diplomacy and refused to endorse a threat of sanctions backed by Japan, Britain and the United States.

Some in the United States believe that China, acting as DPRK's strong friend and economic lifeline, providing Pyongyang with trade, aid and energy, China seemingly has lots of leverages in its hand.

However, China obviously isn't using aid as a weapon.